The Stroke Center at St. Luke's
A stroke happens when a blood vessel that brings oxygen and nutrients to the brain bursts or is blocked. This rupture or blockage keeps an area of the brain from getting the blood and oxygen it needs to work properly. Nerve cells in the area of the brain where a stroke takes place begin to die after several minutes. In fact, about two million brain cells die every minute during a stroke.
The doctors, nurses and technologists of the certified St. Luke’s Stroke Center are dedicated to:
The Stroke Care Team at St. Luke’s
St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem and Allentown supports a 24-hour, multidisciplinary emergency response team for the management of acute stroke patients, as well as a team of health care providers dedicated to the ongoing care of stroke victims.
St. Luke’s certified Stroke Center is dedicated to specialized care and collaboration between patients and families and the health care team. This multidisciplinary team consists of:
- Primary care physicians
- Neurologists
- Neurosurgeons
- Nurses
- Neuroradiologists
- Rehabilitation specialists
- Case managers
- Other highly skilled caregivers
St. Luke’s certified Stroke Center is distinguished by:
- 24-hour emergency response team
- Dedicated neuroscience unit
- Community education program
- Stroke prevention education programs
- Education regarding warning signs of stroke
- Stroke risk assessments
- Continuing education for health care team members including monthly neuroscience grand rounds and case studies
- Quality and continuous process improvement forum
- Supported by the American Stroke Association’s public awareness campaign and Get With the Guidelines Stroke
Stroke is an Emergency
A stroke occurs when one of the following happens in the brain:
Ischemic Stroke
A blood vessel becomes blocked – The more common type of stroke are blockages cause by fatty build-ups in the arteries of the brain. They often occur first thing in the morning or at night.
Hemorrhagic Stroke
A breakage causes bleeding in the brain – The less common but more fatal stroke happens when bleeding occurs in the brain. These strokes can be caused by high blood pressure and aneurysms.
The seriousness of the damage depends on the part of the brain and how much of the brain is affected during the stroke.
A stroke victim is likely to undergo a computer-imaging test, such as a CT scan or MRI upon arrival at the St. Luke's. Test will identify the type of stroke and the affected area of the brain to aid treatment.
Common stroke treatments
- Medication
- Hospital care
- Surgery
- Physical Rehabilitation
Clot-busting medication can be given within the first three hours of stroke to minimize or prevent damage caused by stroke. Therefore, a rapid, organized response by a team of experts is essential for the quick evaluation, diagnoses and treatment of stroke victims. This emergency stroke response team at St. Luke’s consists of Emergency Department physicians and nurses, CT scan technologists, radiologists and neurologists. This organized “Stroke Alert” is crucial in providing timely care for stroke patients.
Stroke Warning Signs
Cellular damage caused by a stroke can lead to a range of symptoms. Seek medical assistance if you experience any of the following:
- Numbness/weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body;
- Confusion, trouble speaking or understanding;
- Trouble seeing in one or both eyes;
- Trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and
- Severe headache with no known cause.
Preventing Stroke
It is not always possible to prevent a stroke. Risk of a stroke increases after the age of 55. Family history, race, gender, and prior stroke or heart attack might factor into individual’s risk of stroke.
Lifestyle choices—such as smoking or abuse of drugs and alcohol—can increase the risk of stroke. Smokers can reduce their risk of stroke by quitting, and substance abusers should seek addiction treatment. Medical treatment for chronic conditions, a healthy diet and exercise also may help reduce the risk of stroke.
St. Luke’s also has renewed public awareness efforts regarding stroke prevention, stroke risk factors and stroke warning signs – critical factors to decreasing deaths and disability caused by stroke.